Inception Report – Action plan – Córdoba (Province), Argentina, 2024 – 2027
Overview
Name of Evaluator
Facundo Nicolás Barrionuevo
facundo.barrionuevo@unc.edu.ar
Member Name
Córdoba (Province), Argentina
Action PlanAction plans are at the core of a government’s participation in OGP. They are the product of a co-creation process in which government and civil society jointly develop commitments to open governmen... Title
Action plan – Córdoba (Province), Argentina, 2024 – 2027
Section 1.
Compliance with
co-creation requirements
1.1 Does a forum exist?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
The co-creation processCollaboration between government, civil society and other stakeholders (e.g., citizens, academics, private sector) is at the heart of the OGP process. Participating governments must ensure that a dive... of the Second Open Government Action Plan for the Province of Córdoba involved a multi-stakeholder forumRegular dialogue between government and civil society is a core element of OGP participation. It builds trust, promotes joint problem-solving, and empowers civil society to influence the design, imple... of representatives from the government, civil society, and universities within the Province. This forum not only oversaw the development of the plan but also was actively involved in its co-creation throughout the entire process. Over the course of eight working meetings from May to August, the group was established, opportunities and challenges were identified, potential solutions were explored, and commitments were developed. On Thursday, May 9th, at 11:30 AM (ART), a presentation on the formation of the roundtable was held at the Bicentennial Civic Center in the city of Córdoba. For three months, this group met over eight dynamic in-person and virtual sessions, employing collaborative tools such as Jamboard. These meetings served as both a validation and presentation stage for the Action Plan.
Provide evidence for your answer:
1.2 Is the forum multi-stakeholder?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
The multi-stakeholder forum (roundtable) included representatives from both governmental and non-governmental sectors (civil society organizations and various provincial universities), including the Open Government Secretariat of the Ministry of Government (government POC for OGP), FUNDEPS, Minka Digital, Red Ciudadana Nuestra Córdoba, Asociación Civil Crear, Colegio Universitario Politécnico, ICDA – Escuela de Negocios Universidad Católica de Córdoba, Instituto Universitario Aeronáutico – Centro Regional Córdoba, Universidad Blas Pascal, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba – Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad Católica de Córdoba – Facultad de Ciencia Política y Relaciones Internacionales, Universidad Católica de Córdoba – Instituto Federal de Gobierno, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Universidad Nacional de Villa María, Universidad Provincial de Córdoba, and Universidad Siglo 21. Additionally, during the co-creation process, the Ministry of Government called for the appointment of representatives from each ministry to form an Open Government Executive Committee for the future plan implementation.
Provide evidence for your answer:
- Request for designation of ministry representatives e-mail example
- Article about participating stakeholders
1.3 Does the forum hold at least one meeting with civil society and non-governmental stakeholders during the co-creation of the action plan?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
Eight meetings were held during the co-creation process, with the active participation of civil society members (civil society organizations and universities). These meetings facilitated the identification of challenges, opportunity areas, and solutions, and the development of commitments. Furthermore, a citizen validation methodology was developed, and citizen input was collected and processed.
Provide evidence for your answer:
1.4 Has the action plan been endorsed by the stakeholders of the forum or steering committeeThe Steering Committee is OGP’s executive decision-making body. Its role is to develop, promote and safeguard OGP’s values, principles and interests; establish OGP’s core ideas, policies, and ru.../group?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
The plan received the unanimous support of all members of the roundtable. A timeframe was established for each member to provide their final observations and contributions. Subsequently, on August 15th, it was held a final validation meeting of the Action Plan. All organizations that contributed to and validated the plan are listed in its strategic vision and participated in the official launch of the plan
Provide evidence for your answer:
Section 2.
Recommended practices
in co-creation
2.1 Does the government maintain a Local OGP website or webpage on a government website where information on the OGP Local process (co-creation and implementation) is proactively published?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
The Government of Córdoba has a designated section for the Open Government Action Plan. This section was launched alongside the official presentation of the plan and will be continuously updated with information regarding its implementation and progress. This website is accessible online without any barriers. Through this website, users can access the Governor’s letter of support submitted to the OGP, information about the monitoring entity, the Action Plan in both Spanish and English, the composition of the roundtable that validated the 2024-2027 Action Plan II, and the entire co-creation process, including information on the development and implementation of commitments as they progress. Additionally, there are video testimonials available from key members of the roundtable. Information is proactively published on a regular basis every 3 months.
Provide evidence for your answer:
2.3 Did the government ensure that any interested member of the public could make inputs into the action plan and observe or have access to decision-making documentation?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
Yes, the Secretariat, together with the roundtable members, organized an online survey that was available for ten days. This survey aimed to collect feedback from civil society and the general public regarding the proposal and the planned actions outlined in the Action Plan. The survey sought to assess the level of acceptance, encourage citizen participationAccording to OGP’s Articles of Governance, citizen participation occurs when “governments seek to mobilize citizens to engage in public debate, provide input, and make contributions that lead to m... More in the implementation and monitoring stages, and gather ideas and suggestions to improve the planned actions. It was shared via WhatsApp, the government’s website, social networks, and the communities represented by roundtable members. A total of 198 people participated in the survey.
Provide evidence for your answer:
- Website where information on the 2024-2027 Action Plan is kept up to date
- Governor’s letter of support
- Co-creation process
- Roundtable
- Monitoring Entity
- Action Plan
The Secretariat, along with the roundtable members, developed an online survey that was available for ten days. This survey aimed to gather direct feedback from civil society and the general public regarding the proposal and the actions outlined in the Action Plan. The goals were to assess levels of acceptance and support, encourage citizen participation in the implementation and monitoring process, and collect innovative ideas and suggestions to enhance the plan’s actions. The survey was distributed through WhatsApp, the web page, government networks, and the communities of each roundtable member. As a result, a total of 198 people answered the survey.
Provide evidence for your answer:
- Website where information on the 2024-2027 Action Plan is kept up to date
- Governor’s letter of support
- Co-creation process
- Roundtable
- Monitoring Entity
- Action Plan
2.4 Did the government proactively report back or provide written feedback to stakeholders on how their contributions were considered during the creation of the action plan?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
The elaboration of the Action Plan was developed entirely through collaboration with the roundtable members. This process involved a continuous collection of input, suggestions, and contributions that were integrated into the plan’s creation. The Secretariat played a proactive and collaborative role in incorporating these contributions, leading to the final Action Plan. It was important to include final validation instances with the roundtable and to ensure a feedback loop for all participants involved in the citizen validation survey.
Provide evidence for your answer:
- Website where information on the 2024-2027 Action Plan is kept up to date
- Governor’s letter of support
- Co-creation process
- Roundtable
- Monitoring Entity
- Action Plan
2.5 Was there an iterative dialogue and shared ownership between government and non-governmental stakeholders during the decision making process, including setting the agenda?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
This process was organized into several meeting phases. Dialogue tables and workshops were carried out, which not only allowed for open discussion on the priorities and key issues for developing commitments but also gave opportunities to provide feedback and adjust proposals based on the contributions received. The establishment of the agenda was a joint effort involving both government and non-governmental actors, ensuring that the goals reflected the needs and expectations of all parties involved. This approach fostered a sense of shared responsibility in decision-making, which enhanced legitimacy and commitmentOGP commitments are promises for reform co-created by governments and civil society and submitted as part of an action plan. Commitments typically include a description of the problem, concrete action... to the plan’s goals. The iterative nature of the process allowed for a continuous cycle of input and refinement, ensuring that decisions were not made unilaterally but were rather the product of a collaborative effort.
Provide evidence for your answer:
2.6 Would you consider the forum to be inclusive and diverse?
Very
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
The forum can be considered inclusive and diverse based on how the roundtable was formed, without restrictions that limited the participation of certain groups. InclusionOGP participating governments are working to create governments that truly serve all people. Commitments in this area may address persons with disabilities, women and girls, lesbian, gay, bisexual, tr... was demonstrated through the open call directed to 12 universities and 4 NGOs, allowing each entity to freely choose their representatives without any conditions related to their identity, origin, or background. Diversity, understood as the representation of multiple perspectives and experiences, is reflected in the final composition of the group of 25 people, with participants of different genders and ages. By not applying exclusionary criteria in the selection process, a space was created where diverse voices had the opportunity to contribute their ideas and knowledge. This approach ensures that the co-creation process respects the principles of inclusion and diversity, allowing for effective and equitable participation for all involved.
Provide evidence for your answer:
Section 3.
Initial evaluation
of commitments
1 Commitment :
Strengthening the Open Management Portal (Portal de Gestión Abierta)
1.1 Is the commitment verifiable?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
The commitment to “Strengthening the Open Management Portal” is verifiable, as it sets clear goals and concrete actions that enable effective evaluation of its implementation. This commitment seeks to transform the Open Management website into an active transparencyAccording to OGP’s Articles of Governance, transparency occurs when “government-held information (including on activities and decisions) is open, comprehensive, timely, freely available to the pub... More portal, incorporating an open dataBy opening up data and making it sharable and reusable, governments can enable informed debate, better decision making, and the development of innovative new services. Technical specifications: Polici... portal that centralizes provincial government’s public information, which is currently scattered across various websites. The milestones defined for this commitment include specific and tangible deliverables, such as: reports, data lists, data management protocols and manuals, communication and dissemination campaign publications, a ministerial resolution, among others. These elements provide verifiable means to monitor and evaluate progress toward achieving the set goals, ensuring a transparent and measurable process.
Provide evidence for your answer:
1.2 Does the commitment language/activities clearly justify relevanceAccording to the OGP Articles of Governance, OGP commitments should include a clear open government lens. Specifically, they should advance at least one of the OGP values: transparency, citizen partic... to OGP values?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
This commitment clearly justifies its relevance to the OGP values, as it focuses on promoting transparency and accountability. The development of an open data portal, which centralizes and facilitates access to public information in an interoperable, accessible, and free way, significantly improves citizen’s access to information, one of the fundamental pillars of OGP. Additionally, this commitment strengthens citizen participation by providing tools that enable citizens to monitor and evaluate public management, thus empowering the capacity to oversee and hold government actors accountable, and enriching public debate and democracy.
Provide evidence for your answer:
1.3 Please select one option that best describes the commitment:
a continuation of ongoing practice in line with existing legislationCreating and passing legislation is one of the most effective ways of ensuring open government reforms have long-lasting effects on government practices. Technical specifications: Act of creating or r..., policies or requirements.
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
The proposed commitment builds upon existing practices and aligns with current laws, policies, and regulations. While the Open Management web portal provides information about the execution of government programs, it is still in its preliminary stages. Although the current site partially meets the goal of transparency, it does not yet comply with international standards for an open data portal, which include criteria such as openness, accessibility, interoperability, comprehensiveness, free availability, and the use of open formats.
Provide evidence for your answer:
1.4 Please select one option that best describes the commitment:
will result in a change of the rules, practices or policies that govern a policy area, public sector and/or relationship between citizens and is binding or institutionalized across government or specific institution(s).
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
In assessing the commitment’s potential to generate results, it is concluded that it offers a preliminary indication of its capacity to produce significant impacts. The proposed activities suggest an important change in policy processes and practices. The commitment aims to provide current management data according to international standards, ensuring openness, accessibility, interoperability, comprehensiveness, and free availability. In addition, the active transparency portal will centralize access to the provincial government’s public information, linking various data pages currently scattered across different websites. This effort will require the commitment of multiple government areas and an adjustment in data publication procedures, institutionalizing the new government transparency procedure.
Provide evidence for your answer:
1.5 Are there any recommended changes to the design of the commitment to help improve its implementation?
In addition to the proposed elements for the transformation of the Open Management Portal, it is recommended to include interactive tools that allow citizens, media, and NGOs to visualize, analyze, and download data in different formats. Some ideas that may help are:
- Interactive data visualization: Integrate dynamic graphs, interactive maps, and customizable dashboards to facilitate data analysis. Include the possibility of bulk data downloads.
- Advanced interoperability: Develop APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) that allow software developers and other platforms to consume the portal’s data efficiently and automatically. This can foster the development of tools outside the government.
- Feedback and co-creation spaces: Include a forum or interactive space for users to make suggestions, request specific datasets, and report data errors, in an open and transparent manner, with a public record and traceability of responses and interactions.
- Periodic publication of portal usage reports: Create public reports on portal usage, highlighting the most consulted datasets, the applications or research conducted with the data, and the impact they generate on society.
2 Commitment :
Co-creation of a Public Access to Information Bill
2.1 Is the commitment verifiable?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
The commitment is verifiable, since it contemplates the establishment of a multi-stakeholder council and the drafting of a bill, with specific milestones such as: a review of current legislation, an exchange of experiences, the drafting of the bill, a public discussion process, and review and presentation of the bill. This work will be led by a commission composed of specialists in the field, representatives of the different branches of government, government members, representatives of civil society organizations, and academics. The objective is to guarantee a comprehensive and plural vision in the development of the bill, incorporating diverse perspectives and experiences to ensure effective legislation that meets the needs of society. Deliverables include the commission’s formation act, meeting minutes, reports, and the final draft of the bill.
Provide evidence for your answer:
2.2 Does the commitment language/activities clearly justify relevance to OGP values?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
The language and activities outlined in this commitment clearly justify its relevance to OGP values. This commitment aligns directly with the principles of transparency and citizen participation, as it seeks to update the legal framework for access to public information in the Province of Córdoba, promoting broader and more adequate access to government information. The collaborative effort in co-creating the bill, which involved specialists, government representatives, and civil society, reflects the value of collaboration and ensures that the process is inclusive and plural. Furthermore, accountability is strengthened through the creation of a normative framework that allows citizens, both organized and unorganized, to effectively access public information, improving the interaction between government and society.
Provide evidence for your answer:
2.3 Please select one option that best describes the commitment:
a new regulationGovernment reformers are developing regulations that enshrine values of transparency, participation, and accountability in government practices. Technical specifications: Act of creating or reforming ..., policy, practice or requirement.
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
This commitment entails the development of a new regulation to modernize the current, outdated legal framework for public access to information, which is limited by Provincial Law 8.803. While the provincial government has implemented some regulations on information access through Law 10.618, this law primarily focuses on digitizing and streamlining processes to improve citizen-government interactions. However, it does not comprehensively address the full range of principles governing public access to information and the current demands for transparency. For that reason, this new bill represents an improvement and update of the current legislation and provides a more comprehensive and modern framework, aligned with international standards, ensuring a coherent and structured approach to both the rights and obligations related to public information access. It will strengthen public access to information as a fundamental right for citizens and civil society organizations.
Provide evidence for your answer:
2.4 Please select one option that best describes the commitment:
is a positive change to a process, practice or policy but will not generate a binding or institutionalized change across government or specific institution(s).
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
The commitment marks a positive shift in how public information is accessed in the Province of Córdoba, aiming to update outdated regulations through a new legislative proposal. This process, involving diverse stakeholders, represents a step forward towards greater transparency and access to information. However, until the bill is enacted into law, these changes will not be binding or institutionalized within the provincial government. The current commitment focuses on the co-creation and drafting of the bill, which is a significant step, but its impact will depend on its successful approval, implementation, and enforcement by government institutions. Therefore, while the proposed activities reflect a positive change in processes, they do not yet guarantee a fully institutionalized change.
Provide evidence for your answer:
2.5 Are there any recommended changes to the design of the commitment to help improve its implementation?
It is suggested to incorporate a digital platform that allows citizens to track the bill’s progress and actively participate in its development. This platform could feature:
- Real-time monitoring: To enable citizens to see the current phase of the bill and the progress made in its co-creation.
- Discussion and public consultation: This space would remain open throughout the process, allowing citizens and civil society organizations to contribute ideas, engage in debate, and suggest improvements during the bill’s development. This approach would enhance transparency and accessibility, building trust in the collaborative work between the State and the community.
3 Commitment :
Foster Open Government agenda at local level
3.1 Is the commitment verifiable?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
The commitment is verifiable through concrete actions, such as the implementation of a training and awareness program on open government tools by the Provincial Institute for Municipal Training (IPCAM in Spanish). Deliverables for this action include a needs assessment report, the training program and content, and a final report with the results obtained. In addition, it is proposed to develop and promote the signing of a voluntary commitment to adopt open government principles, particularly promoting open data, by municipalities and communes. Some of the deliverables for this initiative are a user manual and a practical guide for implementation, signed commitments, and an active and available section on the Open Government Portal. Finally, the design and implementation of a collaborative space within the Open Government Portal is envisioned, serving as a “toolbox” of good practices for municipalities and communes. Deliverables include a report on experiences and good practices, a web section featuring the “toolbox,” and minutes and records documenting the process.
Provide evidence for your answer:
3.2 Does the commitment language/activities clearly justify relevance to OGP values?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
This commitment clearly justifies OGP values by promoting transparency and citizen participation through a comprehensive training and awareness program on open government. It aims to encourage municipalities and communes in the Province of Córdoba to adopt more open and inclusive governance practices, aligned with OGP principles. The commitment includes specific actions that promote open data, creating tools for public access to information, and fosters participation through the creation of collaboration spaces between local governments and their communities, which ensures active citizen participation in the design and implementation of public policies. What is more, the commitment strengthens public accountabilityAccording to OGP’s Articles of Governance, public accountability occurs when ”rules, regulations, and mechanisms in place call upon government actors to justify their actions, act upon criticisms ... More by encouraging intergovernmental collaboration and networking with civil society organizations, universities, and the provincial government. These activities not only improve local public management, but also contribute to a cultural shift towards a more open and collaborative administration, aligned with OGP core values.
Provide evidence for your answer:
3.3 Please select one option that best describes the commitment:
a new regulation, policy, practice or requirement.
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
This commitment represents a significant shift in local governance, as it introduces a comprehensive training and awareness program on open government practices that had not been previously implemented at local and global level in Córdoba. While some municipalities have made isolated efforts in transparency and citizen participation, this commitment introduces an innovative and coordinated approach aimed at fostering a structural change in governance. This approach involves training and strengthening the capacities of local officials, promoting open data, citizen participation and collaboration between different actors. In addition, this initiative establishes a clear leadership role for the provincial government in advancing open government principles across all municipalities and communes with a focus on capacity buildingEnhancing the skills, abilities, and processes of public servants, civil society, and citizens is essential to achieving long-lasting results in opening government. Technical specifications: Set of ac... and strengthening intergovernmental networks. This leadership is essential for driving a new paradigm of public management based on open government values, ensuring systematic and uniform adoption at the territorial level.
Provide evidence for your answer:
3.4 Please select one option that best describes the commitment:
will result in a change of the rules, practices or policies that govern a policy area, public sector and/or relationship between citizens and is binding or institutionalized across government or specific institution(s).
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
The commitment not only introduces a positive change in the way local management is carried out through training and awareness-raising in open government practices, but also institutionalizes these changes at the territorial level, covering all municipalities and communes in the Province. By implementing a comprehensive program with clear deliverables and a coordinated approach between different levels of government, the commitment aims to establish institutionalized rules and practices in the area of transparency and citizen participation. This commitment is designed to be sustained and replicated at all levels of local public administration, generating an institutionalized impact that will transform the relationship between government and citizens and promoting more open and collaborative governance in the long term.
Provide evidence for your answer:
3.5 Are there any recommended changes to the design of the commitment to help improve its implementation?
It is proposed to create a section on the digital platform that serves as a hub for municipalities and communes, providing technical and methodological resources to facilitate the implementation of open government principles. This platform would include:
- Articulation with other stakeholders: The Provincial Institute for Municipal Training (IPCAM) could play a key role as a facilitator between the open government needs of local governments and academic institutions or civil society organizations working in these areas.
- Impact measurement and evaluation: A system would be incorporated to allow municipalities and communes to measure the impact of their open government initiatives. This evaluation data would be public and serve to encourage continuous improvement in local governance.
- Elaboration of a transparency index or implementation of a certification upon achieving a certain standard: This could serve as an incentive for voluntary participation in the program. This would promote the exchange of knowledge and the creation of collaborative networks among municipalities, communes, universities, and civil society. This approach would also generate a greater impact on the organizational culture of local public administration, facilitating digital transformationGovernments are working to increase access to and quality of government services, improve transparency, and create opportunities for participation by using information and communications technologies.... and transparency.
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